14 star flag-raising, Manokwari 2010

14/12/2010

The 14 star West Melanesian flag was raised in Manokwari. Police arrested eight people, seven of whom were detained. After a trial regarded as unfair three of the defendants were found guilty of treason and given sentences between seven months and two years. The other four were acquitted, even though they had already spent around eight months in jail.

More than 40 organisations in West Papua, Jakarta and worldwide have brought their analysis on the human rights and conflict situation in West Papua together. The executive summary of the 218-pages report explains how several human rights standards have deteriorated over the last two years. The report is compiled by the International Coalition for Papua (ICP) and the German Westpapua-Netzwerk (WPN).

Political activist, Oktovianus Warnares was convicted of “rebellion” (makar) in 2013 after peacefully commemorating the 50th anniversary of the handover of Papua to the Indonesian government. He is a prisoner of conscience and should be immediately and unconditionally released.